Chinook salmon are a rare capture in Australia and a real novelty fish for local anglers. They are big, hard-fighting salmon with serious power, so anyone lucky enough to hook one usually remembers it.
In Australian waters, Chinook turn up mainly around Tasmania, especially offshore along the south and east coasts where cooler water suits them. Most encounters are in coastal waters and around current lines rather than estuaries, often over deeper ground where bait is holding.
They feed heavily on baitfish, squid and small pelagics, and they are built to chase down fast-moving food. Chinook usually hunt by working through schools of bait, and when they are switched on they can hit trolled lures, metals and whole baits with plenty of aggression.
Tide matters most where current concentrates bait, with the stronger part of the run often giving them more reason to feed. Low light around dawn, dusk and overcast periods can improve activity, especially when fish push bait closer to the surface. Light to moderate wind is usually best because it gives the water a bit of texture without making offshore work messy, while heavy wind can shut down both bait visibility and boat control. Smaller to moderate swell is ideal too, because it keeps offshore grounds fishable, but a big swell can dirty things up and make it much harder to stay on productive water.
A medium-heavy offshore spin or overhead setup with 15 to 24 kilo line gives you enough stopping power without being overkill. Trolled bibbed minnows, skirts, stickbaits and metal lures all work, and if bait is around, rigged whole pilchards, gar or slimy mackerel are well worth a shot. Keep hooks strong and drags smooth because these fish can peel line fast and change direction in a hurry.
Chinook are also called king salmon, and they are the biggest of all Pacific salmon.